National Minimum Wage calculator UK 2026
Turn the published hourly minimum wage rate into gross weekly, monthly and annual pay for a stated working pattern.
Uses official rates from April 2026. Gross pay before deductions.
Selected worker category
Uses the published rate from April 2026 and your stated paid working pattern.
National Minimum Wage rates from April 2026
The official UK rates change on 1 April each year. From April 2026, GOV.UK lists £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, and £8.00 for under-18s and eligible apprentices. The calculator multiplies the selected statutory hourly rate by the hours and paid weeks you enter. It shows gross pay, before tax and deductions.
Read the official National Minimum Wage rates page before relying on an age or apprentice category.
How to use the minimum wage calculator
- Select the age or eligible apprentice category that applies.
- Enter contracted paid hours per week.
- Use the number of paid weeks covered by the contract.
- Read the hourly, weekly, monthly-equivalent and annual gross figures.
The result is a planning calculation. It does not decide whether every type of time, deduction or benefit counts for minimum-wage compliance. GOV.UK provides an official calculator for that legal check.
When the apprentice rate applies
The apprentice rate applies when the worker is under 19, or is aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. An apprentice aged 19 or over who has completed the first year is entitled to the rate for their age. Do not select the apprentice option simply because a role has training attached.
Keep minimum wage and take-home pay separate
Minimum wage is a gross hourly entitlement. Take-home pay is what remains after deductions and can vary with tax code, pension and student loan. Once you have a reliable gross annual figure, use the take-home pay calculator for an annualised net estimate, or use hourly to salary to test another hourly rate and working pattern.
Minimum wage questions
Does the calculator include tax?
No. It shows gross statutory-pay equivalents before deductions.
Are the rates the same across the UK?
National Minimum Wage rates apply across the UK, but a contract or collective agreement can provide a higher rate.
Can unpaid breaks change the comparison?
They can change the effective hourly rate. Check the written contract and official minimum-wage rules before deciding which time counts.
Rates and sources
Built from direct government sources for the 2026/27 tax year. HMRC rates and thresholds · Income Tax rates and allowances · full source ledger.